﻿SHORES OF LAKE WINIPEG. 69 



supply is uncertain, depending greatly on the height 

 of the waters. In harvest time the natives row 

 their canoes among the grass, and, bending its ears 

 over the gunwale, thresh out the grain, which 

 separates readily. They then lay it by for use in 

 neatly-woven rush baskets. This grass finds its 

 northern limit on Lake Winipeg, and it is common 

 in the western waters of the more northern of the 

 United States ; but how far south it extends, I have 

 not been able to learn. Strachey, in his " Historic 

 of Travaille in Virginia," speaks of a " graine called 

 Nattowine^ which groweth as bents do in meadowes. 

 The seeds are not much unlike rice, though much 

 smaller ; these they use for a deyntie bread, but- 

 tered with deere's suet." (p. 118.) It is possible 

 that he may refer to a smaller species (iT. Jluitans) 

 of the same genus, which is known to abound 

 in Georgia ; but the seed of that could scarcely be 

 collected in sufficient quantity. The hop plant 

 (Humulus lupulus) reaches the south end of Lake 

 Winipeg, and, according to Mr. Simpson, yields 

 flowers plentifully in the Ked River colony. We 

 observed it in the autumn of 1849 growing luxu- 

 riantly on the banks of the Kamenistikwoya, and 

 connecting the lower branches of the trees with 

 elegant festoons of fragrant flowers. An opinion 

 prevailed among the traders that Lord Selkirk 

 introduced it into this neighbourhood when he 



F 3 



